Diddy’s Asian Persuasion V: Sunday 21/8 12.00 BST

CHAPTER TWO - The life-cycle of Johnny's groups

Naniwa Danshi - 初心LOVE

Recently I've been intrigued by the Johnny's Entertainment group - a phenomenally successful machine for producing popular multi-talented young men for careers in boybands, acting, dancing and behind-the-scenes duties. They work incredibly hard, far removed from the British boyband audition model as a get-famous-quick scheme.
Anyway, while Johnny's groups have mainly come from Tokyo, some units have come from Kansai, including Naniwa Danshi. Groups perform as units for years before they "debut" with singles and albums (if they're lucky), and typically they start in this form - sickly sweet and decoratively-dressed, the perfect sexless hearthrobs. But this is only the start.
 
I know you'll hate the next block but I was interested in it, and it was supposed to be educational :basil:

Maybe we should just finish now :vomit:
 
King and Prince - Tracetrace

If a group is lucky, it will pick up momentum and fans and get greater opportunities for developing their side-projects, performing "Dome tours" (touring the biggest venues, the largest baseball domes). King & Prince had the biggest debut for a decade 4 years ago, and seems like are just cresting the wave with massive popularity and a much more current-sounding sound - I think they're the only J-Pop boyband that have any possibility of crossing over internationally like BTS have.
 
This is a real earworm for me - I can't say I've really been taken with most of the Johnny's outpiut
 
Hey!Say!Jump! - Banger Night

If the success continues (and it usually does, Johnny's is a ruthlessly successful machine), where do you go from there? HeySayJump celebrate their 15th year this year, and many have successful side-careers in acting, presenting and other fields. The pace slows down, and eventually the dance routines slow down as the knees give out. But these guys still have a few bangers left as they enter their 30s, and a better name than other groups in their generation like SexyZone and KissMyFt2(!)
 
V6 - Bokura wa mada

So what does the end look like? The biggest Johnny's groups make 25 years before thoughts of splitting up, like top group SMAP!, or going on hiatus, like presumed heirs Arashi. But for V6, they celebrated their 26th year by disbanding, so this final single is what a boyband of 40-somethings looks like, sentimental and grown-up, and reluctant to continue in the grind of touring and dancing. But they are already deeply established TV personalities and movie actors by now, so a Johnny's member's work is never really over. Also Junichi Okada can do what he likes with me.
 
Diddy said:
V6 - Bokura wa mada

So what does the end look like? The biggest Johnny's groups make 25 years before thoughts of splitting up, like top group SMAP!, or going on hiatus, like presumed heirs Arashi. But for V6, they celebrated their 26th year by disbanding, so this final single is what a boyband of 40-somethings looks like, sentimental and grown-up, and reluctant to continue in the grind of touring and dancing. But they are already deeply established TV personalities and movie actors by now, so a Johnny's member's work is never really over. Also Junichi Okada can do what he likes with me.
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Again, this is missing for me
 
Diddy said:
What's that!?
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The McDonald's advert. I'm now on APink

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Oh... OK so you're up to...

CHAPTER THREE - SEOUL FOOD

aPink - Remember

I admit I don't know a lot of about these girls, but I discovered this summery treat on a flight back to Japan that had a K-Pop digest, and it sort of stuck with me. A key-change during the chorus? Lovely!
 
ZenGiraffe said:
Not my aPink of choice by any means but it's perfectly listenable
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I am pretty ignorant of K-Pop in general, I've got my hands full with Japanese as it is - but this is such a sunny song. That chorus key-change always feels slightly weird but lovely
 
Brown Eyed Girls - Abracadabra

I was dimly aware of these girls before, and South Korea really DOES do a girl-banger like few others, and it doesn't even seem like this is a one-off for this group either. Can you imagine Girls Aloud doing something like this? I want to.
 
This is one of the first K-pop songs I ever heard. It hasn't stood the test of time for me but I do have a soft spot for it.
 
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